Apparatus for laying pipe in trenches



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. A. STREETER.

APPARATUS FOR LAYING PIPE IN TRENGHES.

No. 413,979. Patented Oct. 29, 1889.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

D. A. STREETER.

APPARATUS FOR LAYING PIPE IN TRENGHES.

Patented Oct. 29, 1889.

Phnlo-mhcgnphor. Wnhingtun. n. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL A. STREETER, OF l/VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR LAYING PIPE IN TRENCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,979, dated October 29, 1889.

Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 306,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. STREETER, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvenient in Apparatus for Laying Pipe in Trenches; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a perspective view of the apparatus as in operation; Fig. 2, a side view representing the apparatus as in operation over the trench 5 Fig. 3, a detached view of the hanger mechanism enlarged.

This invention relates to an apparatus to aid in laying pipe in trenches for gas, water, and like purposes.

In the more general method of laying pipe in trenches a derrick is employed, arranged 7 over the trench, by means of which the pipe lying upon the side of the trench is lifted from the bank and lowered into the trench. These derricks require the arrangement of guys to support them. This apparatus is necessarily heavy, and requires to be moved for the laying of every length of pipe. The expense of the introduction of the pipe in this manner is a large item in the laying of pipes in trenches, and particularly so in the heavier class of pipes.

In a patent granted to me bearing date April 2, 1889, No. 400,881, I have illustrated and described an apparatus which consists of a beam supported upon a standard at one side of the trench, and, extending across, is adapted to rest on the bank at the opposite side, with a carriage arranged to run on the beam, the carriage having a cradle suspended from it by means of line and pulleys, the cradle adapted to take the pipe from the bank, and then, under an advance movement of the carriage, the cradle, with the pipe suspended, is brought to a position over the trench. Then the slackening of the line per mits the cradle, with the pipe, to descend into the trench.

The object of my present invention is to simplify the apparatus to some, extent and avoid the use of the suspending cradle; and

it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the upright, which is supported bya suitable foot-piece B so as to rest on one bank of the trench and stand substantially upright.

C represents the beam, which is vertically adjustable on the post A and of a length to extend across the trench and rest upon the bank on the opposite side, as seen in Fig. 2, this beam and upright being substantially the same as described in my patent before referred to. Two such uprights and beams are usually employed for the laying of each length of pipe, and they are arranged as rep resented in Fig. 1. In position the upright stands distant from the bank sulficiently far to permit the arrangement of the pipe to lie on the bank between the uprights and the trench, as seen in Fig. 1, D representing the pipe to be laid.

Under my improved apparatus I propose to employ what may be called skids supported over the trench, so that the pipe may be rolled directly onto the skids.

E E represent the two bars which form the skids, one arranged directly under each of the beams. One end of the said bars E E is adapted to rest on the bank between the edge of the trench and the pipe to be laid. The other end of these bars E E is supported in a hanger F, extending downward from the beam. This hanger consists of two sides a 12, arranged parallel to each other, preferably one on each side of the beam, and extending up through sockets d, and so as to be vertically adjustable to vary the length of the hangers as occasion may require. The width between these studs a 1) corresponds substan tially to the width of the bars E. To one of the said sides, as a, a cross-bar G is hinged, as seen in Fig. 3, and so as to swing down to open the lower end of the hanger, or so as to be secured in its up position as a cross-bar for the hanger upon which the bar E may rest, as represented in Fig. 1. This cross-bar G is supported at its other end by a trip H, hung to the end of the bar by a link I, and so as to rest upon a shoulder J on the side I). To the side I) a latch K is hinged, so as to Swing in a vertical plane and adapted to enup position, as seen in Fig. 3.

gage the said trip when the bar G is in the arranged to be turned upward, so as to leave the trip free to escape from its-shoulder J, and so that the bar may fall, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3. For convenience, aline L runs from the latch K to a convenient point for the operator, as represented, so that the latch may be lifted as occasion may require. The end of the bars E over the trench are supported on these cross-bars G of the hanger, and there securely held so long as the latch shall engage the trip. The bars E, resting on the bank, permit the pipes to be rolled onto them, and so as to stand over the trench, as seen in Fig. 2, and, so standing, it will be evident that if the latch K be raised the. weight of the'pipe will cause that end of. the

bars E to drop or turn downward, so as ,to permit the pipe to descend into the trench,

At a convenient point on the beam, and

' preferably at the hanger, one end of a line M is attached and runs over a pulley N, also on the beam, the distance between the point of attachment and the said pulley permitting the format-ion of a loop in the line, as seen in Fig.2. 7 From the. pulley N the line runs to any convenient point for manipulation,

, (here represented as to the upright,) where it maybe secured by cleats or pins; or any suitable windlass may be employed by which to manipulate the line.

In. operation, the skid-bars E E being v arranged over the trench and there supported in thehangers, the loop from the line of. the respective pulleys is passed around the pipe near the ends, as seen in Fig. 1. Then drawing upon the line M will cause the loops to shorten and produce a rolling motion of the pipe toward the skids and until the pipe is brought 'upon the skids over the trench, as represented in Fig. 2. When this position is reached and everything in readiness, the cross-bars G of the hangers are unlatched, and, falling, relieve the bars .E, so that they may be easily withdrawn and leave the pipe free to descend into the trench, as .seen in broken lines, Fig. 2.

The hangers are best made adjustable by making a series of holes in each side and introducing a pin 6 through the holes above the beam, as shown but any suitable adjustment may be employed so as to permit thehangers to-be raised or lowered, according to the position required for the skid-barsf This con- The latch is.

paratus is easily transferable from place to place, thereby possessing great advantages over the derricks as usually employed.

I claim- 7 1. The combination of the ppright A, the beam 0, extending horizontally therefrom, the upright 'provided with a suitable base for its vertical support, a hanger F, extending down from said beam, open at its lower end, a crossbar hinged to one side of the open lower end of said hanger, a trip and latch upon the other side to hold said cross-bar in place or permit its disengagement, and a skid-bar E, one end adapted to be supported in said hanger on said cross-bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination ofthe upright A, the horizontal beamO, extending from said up.-

.right, a vertically-adjustable hanger F, ar-

ranged upon said beam, open at its lower end, a cross-barhinged to one side of said open lower end of the hanger and detachably engaged with, the other side, so as to form a detachablesupport across said lower end of the horizontalbeam O, projecting. therefrom, a

vertieal hanger F, open at itslower end,; a

cross-bar hinged at one side of said open. lower end of the hanger, with'mechanism, substantially such as described, to detachably engage said cross-bar with theother side of.

the open end of the hanger, the, saidxhanger adapted to receive one end of a skid-bar E,

hanger and said upright, over which said line 4. The combination of the upright A, the

horizontal beam Cfextending from said up.-

right, the hanger provided with sockets d d,

the hanger composed of two sides extending up through said sockets and. vertically adjustable therein, the said sides detached at their lower end, a cross-bar G, hinged to one of said sides, the other sideconstructed with a shoulder J ,atrip H,hung to said cross-bar G, and a latchK, hinged to said sideb, substantially as and for the purpose described.

' DANIEL A. STREETER. WVitnesse's:

CHAS. G..Roor, WM. W. Bonnnrr.

with a line, oneend attached to the beam at 1 the hanger, a pulley arranged between. said passes, and whereby a loop is formed in said 

